Difference between revisions of "Funeral for a Fiend/References"

Revision as of 08:09, September 23, 2010

Cultural References

• The episode title is a reference to the Elton John song (and possibly the band) "Funeral for a Friend."
• The episode title could also be a reference to the title of the comic book story arc following the death of Superman.
• The family layout in the popular series Frasier is repeated in this episode. Kelsey Grammer and David Hyde Pierce play brothers in both series, while John Mahoney plays their father.
• A reference to Clippy, the Microsoft Office helper, is also shown.
• The Itchy and Scratchy cartoon short that the family views on the new TiVo is titled "Spherical on 34th Street", a reference to the Miracle on 34th Street films.
• In "Spherical on 34th Street", Scratchy's demise comes about as a result of Itchy filling him up with hydrogen and igniting him with a flaming arrow. As Scratchy burns up, showering the crowd with viscera, Itchy exclaims, "Oh, the hilarity!", a reference to broadcaster Herbert Morrison's famous cry of "Oh, the humanity!" during the Hindenburg disaster.
• Marge Simpson, for skipping commercials while watching shows on TiVo, is named Keith Olbermann's Worst Person in the World.
• After showing The Simpsons family his evil plot, Sideshow Bob says that the commercial gained him position as director of "The Hills Have Eyes 3: The Hills Still Have Eyes.
• At the funeral, Krusty the Clown plays the piano and sings the song "Farewell, Sideshow Bob", in a parody reminescent of Elton John playing "Candle in the Wind" for Princess Diana at her funeral.
• When Moe runs behind the Hibberts' van watching their DVD player, the Sesame Street episode where Derek Jeter guest-stars is playing.
• When Sideshow Bob tries to look up the Shakespeare quote online, he consults Wikipedia, which is stated when he yells at it to load faster.

Trivia

• Some of the commercials Lisa fast-forwards through while using the TiVo for the first time have been seen previously in the series:
  • The Duff Beer commercial with Santa's Little Helper (seen in "Old Yeller Belly")
  • The Turbo Diary commercial ("The Dad Who Knew Too Much")
  • The Funzo commercial ("Grift of the Magi")
  • Homer's SpringShield commercial ("Poppa's Got a Brand New Badge")
  • The Mr. Sparkle commerical ("In Marge We Trust")
  • Also seen is the commerical for Wes Doobner's World-Famous Family-Style Rib Huts, which Sideshow Bob uses to trap the Simpsons later in the episode.

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